"Makoto, you were reckless today."
Inside the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi wore an expression of displeasure rare for their interactions.
"I sincerely apologize, Sensei."
Makoto bowed his head. "It's just that the Mist ninja was harassing a Leaf woman. I couldn't stand by."
"You're still too young." Sarutobi exhaled a cloud of pipe smoke, his tone heavy with a mentor's weariness. "You need to understand that rash actions over small slights can derail larger plans. Patience is a weapon too. Don't let a moment of anger ruin what matters."
Right. And then you just keep letting the Cloud do whatever they want, year after year.
Makoto kept his expression neutral, but the complaints came fast and bitter in his mind.
During the Second War, the Cloud had tried to kidnap Kushina Uzumaki . Hiruzen endured it.
After the Third War, the Cloud attempted to abduct Hyuga Hinata, then had the gall to demand Hyuga Hiashi's corpse as compensation. Hiruzen endured that too.
Back in his previous life, Makoto had genuinely wondered whether the old man was repaying some debt to the Cloud.
After all, if Kinkaku and Ginkaku hadn't staged their coup and killed Tobirama Senju, the Hokage seat would never have fallen to Sarutobi in the first place.
His passivity had infected those under him. Every Leaf ninja in that restaurant today, and not a single one had stepped forward.
Plenty of fans in his past life loved blaming the village elders for wiping out the Uchiha clan. But the Uchiha had their own problems. Too emotional, the whole lot of them.
Brilliant generals, sure, but supreme leaders? Not a chance. They lacked the temperament, and they refused to accept it.
Still, looking at today's sorry display, Makoto thought the village would've been better off with the Uchiha Military Police still around.
Those people might have been unhinged to the last man, but they were never cowards. They would've torn Suikazan Kijuurou apart on the spot.
He lifted his head and arranged his features into righteous indignation. "I'm sorry, Sensei. It's just... their behavior was an insult to your authority. I couldn't let it slide."
The displeasure melted from Sarutobi's face almost instantly, replaced by something warm, even a faint smile. "I understand your intentions. But don't do anything this reckless again. Now go. Get some rest."
Flattery never fails.
Makoto left the office and sighed inwardly. Sarutobi-sensei, you really are spineless.
Dying at Orochimaru's hands had been the most dignified exit the man could've asked for. A few more years in that chair and there was no telling how far he'd drag Konohagakure's standards into the mud.
His thoughts shifted. Obito had come to the Leaf too. That was something he could use.
That evening, the atmosphere in the Yukinoshita household was heavier than usual.
A funeral-quiet dinner ended, and Yukino cracked first, shooting to her feet. "I... I'll do the dishes."
Sensing her mother's suffocating pressure, Haruno followed suit, bolting for the exit. "I'm going to review the ninjutsu we covered today."
With her current strength, she had no reason to fear her mother.
Once they returned to the real world, she could leave the Yukinoshita family entirely and thrive on her own.
But the fear of Mrs. Yukinoshita was written into her DNA. Like an animal born in a circus: fully grown, yet still flinching at the crack of the whip.
"Ayano..."
The Yukinoshita patriarch called his wife's name with an awkward smile, reaching out to hold her.
The moment his fingers brushed her waist, she recoiled as though scalded, swatting his hand away so violently he nearly stumbled.
"Ayano, what's..."
"I want to be alone."
She rose, cold as frost.
"Of... of course..."
He nodded meekly, watching her retreat into the bedroom, the door clicking shut behind her.
Yukinoshita Ayano sat alone on the bed, head bowed, silent for a long time.
The image surfaced unbidden: that silhouette, walking away. That casual voice, tossing off the words "All clear" like it was nothing.
Her fingers drifted slowly downward.
...
I'm a terrible woman.
Two more weeks passed.
July 1st. The Chunin Exams officially began.
Outside the newly built Yukinoshita dessert shop, Team Makoto's trio gathered as always.
"Ran, how's your training been?" Utaha Kasumigaoka asked, since Ran Mouri had been scarce lately.
She'd been training with Guy's team for weeks, so the three of them had barely seen each other.
"Pretty good. Everyone on Guy's team has been great." Ran smiled, then winced at some unpleasant memory, scratching her cheek. "It's just... Guy-sensei keeps trying to get me to wear his bodysuit..."
She was a teenage girl. The thought of wearing that was mortifying.
"What about you two?" she asked.
"The Rasengan is brutal." Utaha shook her head.
Makoto had been teaching her, but she wasn't Naruto. After nearly a month, even using the training methods from the original story, she'd barely cleared the first stage. The second stage was nowhere in sight. She probably wouldn't master it before the exams ended.
"Megumi's picking it up faster, though," Utaha added.
But Megumi Katou shook her head. "You're too kind. I'm just... better suited to that type of thing, I suppose."
Footsteps. All three turned to see Makoto walking toward them.
"Sensei!"
Their voices rang out in unison.
Inside the shop, Mrs. Yukinoshita had been wiping down a table. Her head snapped up instantly.
She was alone in the store. She'd fired her husband.
Makoto looked at the three girls and smiled. "It's a dangerous exam, but I believe in you. You're my students, after all."
All three broke into grins. Even Ran, whose heart still orbited a certain detective. Then Makoto spread his arms wide. "We won't see each other for a few days. How about a farewell hug?"
Utaha rolled her eyes. "Still as perverted as ever," she muttered.
Ran's face went red. She didn't move.
But Megumi stepped forward and gave him a light embrace.
"Megumi!" Utaha stared, incredulous.
"It's just a teacher-student hug. Don't read into it." Megumi turned her face away, voice quiet.
Whether she believed her own words was another matter entirely.
Utaha pressed her lips together, then stepped up and hugged him too.
Wow. The fanservice queen of the series really does live up to her reputation. Thirteen and already...
Wait. Almost fourteen now.
Catching the look in Makoto's eyes, Utaha kept her expression perfectly flat. "A courtesy hug. Nothing more. Don't get ideas."
He grinned.
Don't initiate. Don't take responsibility. Don't refuse. That was Makoto Nishikado's ninja way.
Finally, all eyes fell on Ran.
She couldn't do it. In the end, she only murmured, "We should get going. We'll be late."
Makoto chuckled and let it go. "Off you go, then."
He wasn't in any rush.
Watching the three of them walk away together, he found himself looking forward to what lay ahead.
"The usual, ma'am."
Once they were gone, he strolled into the dessert shop as always.
No response.
He raised an eyebrow. "Ma'am?"
"Ah! S-sorry!"
Her voice came from the back kitchen, carrying a trace of barely concealed panic.
"The usual, right? Coming right up!"
A flurry of sounds followed, clattering and bustling.
But beneath it, Makoto caught something else. A faint dripping.
Drip... drip...
Did she leave the faucet on?
In the back kitchen, Mrs. Yukinoshita fumbled with the ingredients, legs pressing together unconsciously.
I'm a terrible woman...